The skies the limit

KHS has the potential for a special season with their core returning from last season

Paul Halfacre Sports Editor @phalfacre_kde

QUEEN CITY – Last season the Kirksville Tigers were short on experience but long on talent. They showed glimpses of their potential last season, but then would show flashes of their youth.

For this upcoming season, the Tigers may have the right combination of experience and talent for a deep post season run.

But head coach Tyler Martin isn’t ready to crown the Tigers king of the district just yet.

“We’re not there yet,” Martin said. “We’ve made strides, we’re still youthful in our mistakes, but we’re doing some good things this summer.”

Kirksville was a talented group on both ends of the court last season, but the Tigers ran into a buzzsaw in the first round of the district tournament that saw them bow out earlier than expected.

For this upcoming season, that talented core returns for another chance.They return a talented forward in Dallin Vorkink. A talented swing man in Chance Edwards and the leader of the offense in point guard Landon Motley also comes back.

They do lose a big piece in Nate Farnsworth. Farnsworth was the strength and power down low that could hold other team’s big men down as well as provide a threat down low that they won’t have this season.

But with a more up tempo system in place, the Tigers might be able to compensate for the loss.

“We’re talking a lot about pushing the ball,” Martin said. “We’ve done a good job so far this summer and hopefully that will carry over. We want to get out and run. I think we’ll be a little bit deeper.”

Over the summer, the Tigers are looking to fine tune some things on offense as well as find a way to compensate on the defensive end for the loss of Farnsworth. With a lot of things going on over the summer the Tigers have found a way to get back to the hardwood and get everybody some action.

“We’ve been getting a lot of guys a lot of game time,” Martin said. “We just want to get a lot of guys game action, and there is a lot of stuff going on and we’re trying to schedule a lot of live experience for the athletes.”

With the amount of games throughout the summer, Martin wants to let the athletes go and have more free form style to the system before the winter season approaches.

“I want them to be a little free, I’m not restricting them too much. We’ll be more organized once the season gets going,” Martin said.

As the season approaches, the Tigers could be building something special on the hardwood. With the right breaks and with a little bit of luck, Kirksville might just be on their way to being “there” sooner than expected.